Name that Tune: What to Expect in The Digital Music Future
Join us for an "insider's look" into the world of digital music. This dinner program will involve a lively and entertaining panel of experts who will explore the future business implications of the revolution in digital music.
The music industry is at a crossroads. For 70 years, recorded music was a specific physical medium, be it vinyl, tape or CD. Today, music is frequently, and easily, bought, moved, shared, and distributed independently of any physical medium. By freeing music from a strip of tape or piece of plastic, technology is disrupting the traditional music distribution channel. Consumers have many more choices about where to find music and how to listen to it, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs. Likewise, artists are able to have a more direct relationship with their fans and cultivate a following in ways that were previously impossible.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>
Our program will explore opportunities and challenges in the emerging world of digital music. This program will explore the impact of digital distribution on the artists and how they are likely to respond to the changing environment. Specific questions that will be addressed in the program include:
1. How can musicians/artists take advantage of new technology and new platforms to get music to their fans while maximizing and protecting their revenue?
2. When will digital music sales be a meaningful contribution of total music sales?
3. Where will the growth in digital music sales come from? Is mobile the answer?
4. Between artists and listeners, what opportunities exist for digital music entrepreneurs?
Moderator:
Michael Malone, Founder of AEI Music Network, board member DMX Music
Presenting Musical Artist:
Dave Dederer, guitarist, singer and songwriter, The Presidents of the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>
United States of America
Expert Panelists:
David Weinberg, Universal Music, eLabs, V.P. Business Affairs
Bill Valenti, Melodeo, CEO
Robert Acker, RealNetworks, Vice President, Music Services
BIOs
Michael Malone founded AEI Music Network in 1971, a company that started the concept of "foreground music" or the use of original music programming as a business marketing tool. Malone built AEI to a $100 million revenue company, providing music to major retailers, hotels and restaurant chains, and 38 airlines worldwide. In 2000, Malone merged AEI with DMX Music, where he now serves on the Board of Directors. Michael graduated from the University of Washington and has held various music industry positions, including serving on the board of the International Business Music Association (IBMA) for 11 years and serving as a member of the board of the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA). In 1994, Michael was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by INC Magazine.
Active in the community, Michael is past president and lifetime trustee of PONCHO (Patrons of Northwest Charitable Organization); past chairman and lifetime member of the University of Washington TYEE Board of Advisors, as well as a Trustee on the University of Washington Foundation. In 1989 Michael served as the Seattle Arts Commissioner and has also served as the City's Commissioner to the Seattle Center. Michael currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Seattle Police Department Foundation and is on the Board of Directors of Expeditors International, Inc., a $2 billion publicly held company.
Michael, along with his wife and four daughters, finds time to enjoy fly fishing, skiing, racing vintage cars, and some farming on his rural ranch in Eastern Washington.
Dave Dederer is a founding member, guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and sometime manager with The Presidents of the United States of America, the Seattle band best known for mid-90s Top 40 hits "Lump," "Peaches" and "Kitty." The Presidents went platinum or gold around the world with their first two albums, have been nominated for two GRAMMYs and have appeared countless times in major media worldwide. The band reformed in 2002 after a five-year hiatus and recently started their own record label to re-release their debut and release a new album, Love Everybody. Dave also works full-time with Seattle public affairs firm Pyramid Communications.
Dave holds a B.A. in English and American Literature from Brown University. He also completed all coursework for a Master's in Urban Planning at the University of Washington before his thesis project was interrupted by unexpected rock stardom.
The Presidents of the United States of America and PUSA, Inc.
A musical artist's business operations are a many-headed beast; various income sources - touring, publishing, record royalties - are often handled through their own discrete partnerships and corporations. The most recent addition to the Presidents' stable is PUSA, Inc., a record label co-founded in 2004 by the band and its managers, David Meinert and Mike Tierney. PUSA, Inc. released three full-length CDs in the second half of 2004. The label also oversees licensing of the Presidents' music for use in film, TV, advertising and digital media.
David Weinberg serves as Vice President, Business Affairs, Universal Music Group, eLabs. Universal eLabs, a division of Universal Music Group ("UMG"), is responsible for handling the company's strategic electronic commerce initiatives, Internet exploitation, new technology business opportunities, and other strategic initiatives worldwide. Universal eLabs' business development and business affairs' staff supports all of UMG's e-business initiatives, including digital download, subscription, video on demand, webcasting, interactive radio and pay-per-play through all digital channels of purchase such as kiosks, computers, TV set top boxes, and portable devices. eLabs works closely with and supports all UMG's record labels and other businesses to enhance opportunities for music driven by new technologies, while protecting the value of recorded music.
Prior to UMG, David practiced law in New York at Grubman Indursky, PC, a leading music business firm. David began his law career at Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy in New York in 1989. David received his JD and BA from the University of Texas at Austin and studied toward a masters in architecture at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.
Bill Valenti is a seasoned entrepreneur and global-business executive, combining more than 20 years of experience in international investment banking and successful technology start-ups. Bill spent 17 years in Asia developing commercial and investment banking business for Chemical Bank/Riggs Bank. Returning to the U.S., he launched New Pacific Partners, an investment banking partnership focused on Asian-market strategies. He later served as CEO of Tegic Communications, a software development/licensing firm that was later acquired by AOL. Bill also has founded and/or headed a number of innovative companies including World2Market, Hutchison Mediator and HEEDworks, Inc.
Bill received a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Temple University and a Master's in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management. He remains active on the boards of a number of start-up companies and served as a Trustee of the International Snow Leopard Trust.
Robert Acker is Vice President of Music Services. He is responsible for developing the company's world-class music and video products and services, including RealPlayer, the RealPlayer Music Store, RadioPass, and the award-winning Rhapsody service. Before joining Real in 2004, Mr. Acker was a founding member of the XM Satellite Radio team. As Vice President of Product Development and Planning at XM Satellite Radio, he directed all aspects of the company's development of the world's first consumer satellite radio.
In addition to holding an MBA from Harvard, Mr. Acker also holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in engineering from MIT.
